Picket-fence



(No Model.)

M. S. CHAPMAN.

PIGKET FENCE. I No. 274,173. Patented: Mar. 20, 1883.

I! Jr 1.7V VENTOR N. FEYERS. mmunw m'. WuhingM m a UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

MELVILLE S. CHAPMAN, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

PlCKET-FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,173, dated March 20, 1883.

' Application filed November 29, 1882. (No model.)

' ings.

This invention relates to picket-fences, and has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, and efficient picketfence suitable for orchards, gardens, or for any purposes for which this class of fences are now used. The constrm-tion of my improved fence is as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the drawings hereto annexed, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of my improved fence. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through one .of the posts. Fig. 3 is a sideview of one of the posts, and Fig. 4 is a side view of an intermediate postor support.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

A represents the fence-post, which consists of two uprights, B B, connected by interposed coiled springs O (J, which force said uprights apart from each other. The uprights B B are mounted upon cross pieces or sills D, which keep them off the ground and support them in an uprightposition. Stakes E, which are driven between the sills D D, are provided with cross pieces or pins F, resting upon said sills and holding them securely in position.

G G are the pickets, which are made of wood, preferably square in cross-section, and equipped with points or barbs H, in order to discourage any attempt to break through or climb over the fence. Said pickets are provided near their upper and lower ends,on opposite sides, with upwardly-inclined notches I, to receive the wires J J, which are not twisted between the pickets, as is usual in this class of fences, but simply crossed, thereby retaining greater tensile strength of the wires. At the post A the when the wire expands by reason of change of temperature, the springs G will expand and .take up the slack. When the wire contracts the springs will be compressed and keep the wires taut without danger of breakage.

Thepickets G are provided on one side, near the center, with notches K, out alternatelyin an upward and downward direction, to receive asingle center-wire, L, which is strung through said notches and made fast to the post, as shown.

Between the main postsAintermediate posts, M, maybe used, having notches N to receive the wires and prevent sagging.

I claim as my invention-- I 1. A fence-post consisting essentially of two uprights held apart by coiled springs, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. 1n a fence, the combination of the pickets having upwardly-inclined notches near their upper and lower ends, the connectingwires strung in said notches and crossed between the pickets, and the posts, consisting each of two uprights held apart by coiled springs, the connecting-wires of each section or panel being passed through both of said up rights and made fast to the farthest one, as set forth.

3. In afence, the combination of the pickets, the connectingw-ires, the posts, consisting each of two uprights held apart by coiled springs and mounted upon sills, and the stakes having cross pieces or pins, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MELVILLE SOMERS CHAPMAX.

YVitnesses HENRY P. CHAPMAN, ANDREW 0. ROGERS- 

